We hear the words, “I don’t vote because it won’t count.” Every United States citizen has the right to vote to preserve our democracy, and has a right to feel that their vote counts.

How your vote for president counts is decided by the way the state legislature translates actual vote tallies into electoral votes. Electoral votes are apportioned to each state by population — Pennsylvania has 19 electoral votes. Each state’s legislature can decide how its electoral votes are cast in the presidential election. Some states, including this one, declare all their Electoral College votes for the party that had the most individual votes in that state. It may feel like the votes for other candidates are not counted. But there are several ways to allocate Electoral College votes according to individual citizens’ votes.

A few states use the “National Popular Vote – Every Vote Equal” election system. In those states, Electoral College votes are divided proportionally according to the number of individual citizens’ votes. It may feel more like every citizen’s vote has counted in these states.

An “Interstate National Popular Vote State Compact Agreement” among states is needed for the Popular Vote method to make a big difference. As of July 2024, the compact has been enacted into law by 18 jurisdictions together possessing 209 electoral votes – 61 votes away from 270 a majority (out of 538).

To learn more about the National Popular Vote system of presidential elections, proposed election reforms, history of Electoral College, old and new voting statistics, etc. go to the internet – www.NationalPopularVote.com — and learn how this system makes every vote count.

To help Pennsylvania adopt this system, write, call, or email your State Representative and your State Senator and urge them to vote for Pennsylvania to join the National Popular Vote Compact.

Phyllis Wright, a Warren resident, is a member of the League of Women Voters.